Pork Tostadas are open faced sandwiches made on a crispy fried tortilla. Tostada = toasted. Anything that can go on a taco can also be found on a Tostada. You know I am a wimp when it comes to spicy and to me Mexican food meant spicy. Wrong! How did I find out? Last spring I noticed our local grocery offered cooking sessions. Always looking for new dishes and ways to make our meals healthy and varied, I signed up immediately. I’ve added to our food rotation things like Pork Tostadas and more. I love it! For many reasons! HyVee is a regional, employee owned grocery that opened a few months before we bought our home and was a factor in our choosing where to live. Contrary to what some people think, residents of the Great Plains do not shop at trading posts or dingy general ... [Read More]
Mexican
Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Dip
The first time I made Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Dip, I wasn’t so sure anyone would like it. They didn’t just LIKE it, they thought it was fantastic! Black beans, corn and spicy (sort of!) enchilada sauce and all. The creamy melty cheese didn’t hurt either! It is just as good the second day, too, though I had to hide a sample so I could check that out. :-) Sprinkle a little extra cheese on top before running it through the microwave to reheat. Rotisserie chicken works well for this, as does leftover chicken or turkey. Dice the meat on the small side for easier eating and so it won’t break the chips. I used mild enchilada sauce, but if your family likes the spicier versions go right ahead. I did add the cumin for a bit more kick so you might want to adjust that or even use a ... [Read More]
Layered Taco Salad
This layered salad with a Mexican twist makes six servings of about 1 cups each. A glass 8x8 pan is the perfect size. I have a vintage covered refrigerator dish that works great! Use any sturdy lettuce or lettuce mix as the base – iceberg, romaine,etc. A 12 ounce package seems to be the norm, but a 16 ounce package will also work with the proportions above. Feel free to up the amount of taco seasoning for more kick. 1 teaspoon is very mild, 2 teaspoons is medium and 1 tablespoon (3 teaspoons) makes the flavor pop! Wait till the last minute to add the tortilla chips so they stay crunchy. Wheels and Bytes like to have extra chips to moosh on their plates as a foundation to top with the salad. Avacado is optional, but if you choose to use it, add it at the last minute as well so it ... [Read More]
Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
Creamy chicken enchilada -- just slightly spicy and comfort food filling. Easy to make is a bonus! This dish is always a winner and has become the go-to way for making chicken enchiladas at our house! We -- no, it's really me -- prefer mildly spicy so a little extra cumin to a mild enchilada sauce is just right. If your family likes more kick, by all means adjust and add spices if you want. Use the hot and spicy enchilada sauce! The creamy chicken base is still there and will support what you want. You can use frozen chicken that is already sliced or diced. Or canned chicken will also work. Either one will save some preparation time. You can also grill or poach chicken breast to use. Mexican blends of shredded cheese are available, some with added spices. Use ... [Read More]
Fiesta Stuffed Burgers
Fiesta Stuffed Burgers on toasted buns. Yes, there is still time to grill even if the first day of autumn fell from the calendar already! In fact, the grill may get even more use around here in the cooler weather of fall than the hot summer. No matter! Fiesta Stuffed Burgers are good anytime!! Mix the filling ahead of time and set aside to let flavors meld. It doesn’t have to be a long time – just ten minutes at room temperature allows them to ripen a bit. However, you can make the filling ahead a day (or several) and keep it in the refrigerator. Depends on your schedule. Use lean ground beef for the burger itself. Not too lean because you need a bit of fat to keep it moist and edible after the grill has done its thing. 85% lean is just about right. ( That means the ground ... [Read More]
